The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-09-10
4pTAIN NATHAN HALE.
,orv Of One Of the Revolutionary
Heroes.


Cenard. Washington wanted a man.
sas in September, 1776, at the city
New York, a few days after the bat
Of Long Island. The swift and
NJ East River flowed between the
. hostile armies, and General Wash
ZION had as yet no system established
Getting information of the enemy's
lorements and intentions. He never
eded such information so much as at
at crisis.
What would General Howe do next?
he crossed at He'll Gate, the Ameri-
N army too small in numbers, and
Heated the week before, might be
[ught on Manhattan Island as in a
ap and the issue Of the contest might
made to depend upon u single bat
!; for in such circumstances defeat
eula involve the capture Of the whole
|my. And yet General Washington
4, compelled to confess:
we cs,, not learn. nor have we been able to
ocure the least information Of late.'
Therefore he wanted man. He
Fsnted an intelligent man, cool
|p,ded, skillful, brave, to cross the
As. River to Long Island, enter the
hemy's camp, and get information as
! his strength and intentions. He
lent To Colonel Knowlton, command
y a remarkable efficient regiment
Iona Connecticut, and requested him
! ascertain if this man SO sorely
|sdcd could be found in his COM
hand. Colonel Knowlton called his
|hces together, stated the wishes Of
|eueral Washington. and. without urg-
be the enterprise upon any individual,
Nj the matter to their reflections.
Captain Nathan Hale, a brilliant
outh Of twenty-onc, recently grad
uted from Yale College, was one of
bose who reflected upon the subject.
l. soon reached conclusion. He was
/ the very flower Of the young men of
lew England, and one of the best of
be young soldiers Of the patriot army.
L liail lppn educated for the ministry,
nd his motive for adopting for a time
he profession of arms was purely
atriotic. This we know from the
lmiliar records of his life at the time
hen the call to arms was first heard.
In addition to his other gifts and
races. he was handsome, vigorous
nd athletic. all in an extraordinary
egrce. II he had lived in our day he
light have pulled the stroke oar at
lew London, or pitched for the college
Inc.
The officers were conversing in a
Tcur No one had as yet spoken the
ecisise word. Colonel Knowlton APP
called to French sergeant, an old
ddier Of former wars, and asked him
volunteer. n"l(
No, no." said he. II am ready to
sht tho British at any place and time,
ut do not feel willing to 60 among
lem to be hung up like n dog"
Captain Hale joined the group of
Ulcers. He said to Colonel Knowlton:
Il will undertake it,"
Some ofhis best friends demonstrated.
he Of them, afterwards the famous
enenl William Hull. then a captain
! Westinghouse army, has recorded
Ale's reply " his own attempt to dis
llde him.
Il think" said Hale. II owe to my
'antry the accomplishment of an OBJ
NJ so important. I am fully sensible
the consequences of discovery and
iptue in such = situation. But for a
ear have been attached to the army,
Nd have not rendered any material
Hice, while receiving compensation
(which make no return. wish to
useful, and every kind Of service
sessary for the public good becomes
, I by being necessary"
he spoke, rs General Hull remem-
'red. with carnestness and decision,
ono who had considered the matter
ai. and had made up his mind.
having received his instructions, he
''e'ed fifty miles along the Sound as
as Norwalk in Connecticut. One
no saw him there made q very wise
mark upon him, to the effect that he
a' too good looking to go as spy.
could not deceive. "Some scrubby
', (. ought to have gone" At Nor
ak be assumed the disguise Of q
''eh schoolmaster. putting ON suit
plan brown clothes. and a round,
hat He had NO diff
NY in crossing the Sound. since he
re an order from General Washing
u which placed at his disposal all the
ssels belonging To Congress. For
,eial days every thing appears to